Registering mechanism for the tracker-boards of musical instruments.



No. 841,740 PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907. W. B. TENsTA L. REGISTERINGMECHANISM EOE THE TRACKER BOARDS OP MUSICAL E INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.9,1905.

UNITED STATES ENT orrron WILLIAM B TUNSTALL, OF WORCESTER,MASSACHUSETTS.

REGISTERING MECHANISM FOR'THE TRACKER-BOARDSQF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 232, 1907.

V Application filed March 9, 1905. Serial No. 249.157.

To all whom, it new concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. TUNSTALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of TVorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Registering Mechanism forthe Tracker-Boards of Musical Instruments, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of mechanisms which are controlledby strips of perforated paper.

The especial object of thisinvention is to providepneumatically-operated means for maintaining registration between theperfo-- rated strip-and its trackenb'oafd.

To these ends this invention consists of the parts and combinations ofparts as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in theclaims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front viewof sufiicientparts of the winding mechanism for a perforated strip to illustrate theapplication ofmy invention thereto. Fig. 2 is an invertedperspeotiveview of one of the dovetailed pieces containing one of the adjustablemargin perforations which control connections for automaticallymaintaining registration, and Fig.3 is a fragmentary longitudinalsectional view through. the cen- -ter of the end of the tracker board.

In the use of automatic musical instruments and other mechanisms of theclass to which this invention relates a great obstacle to be overcome insecuring accurate and perfect effects is the difficulty of maintainingthe perforated strip inexactly the desired relation to thetracker-board. Many of the instruments of the class to which thisinvention relates are provided with tracker-boards having exceedinglysmall holes. The paper itself is frequently required to be of aconsiderable width, and it has been found in practice that variations inhumidity of the atmosphere and changes in temperature will cause thepaper to shrink or swell to such extents that the perforations are aptto be thrown-out -of alinement with the trackerboard holes, so that onlyimperfect and unreliable efiects can be produced. To overcome this, ithas been proposed to employmusicespools-havin spring-pressed flanges andemploy varlous guiding .devices for ansurmg the aocuratewinding ofthepaper;

but even when the utmost; care isexercised ithas frequently been foundto be impossible to prevent thepaper from wandering so as to bring itsperforations out of alinement with the tracker-board holes. difficulty,in an apparatus constructed according to niv invention I provide apneumatically-operated registering mechanism -which will produce arelative movement of the parts to automatically maintain the paper inregistration with its tracker-board.

In carrying out my invention 1 preferably employ marginal perforationsin the trackerboard which are adjustable toward and from each other.These marginal perforations are intended to lie immediately below theouter edges of the perforated sheet, and in order-to adjust themechanism to variations in width of paper, due to swelling by reasons ofvariations'.1n'moisture or other causes the marginal perforations arepreferably made adjustable toward and away from each other, being setcloser together when narrow paper is being used and being spread fartherapart when somewhat wider paper is being used.

Controlled from the marginal perforations are two opposing setsof'Pne'umatic-operating connections, one set of operating connectionsbeing permitted to act when one marginal perforation is uncovered andthe other set of operating connections being permitted to act when theother marginal perforation is uncovered.

The pneumatic connections when oper ated produce a relative adjustmentbetween the tracker-board and the paper.

In the construction herein illustrated the supply-spool is the partwhich is shifted to correct registration. It is obvious, however, thatthe same result might be secured by shifting the tracker-board, ifdesired.

Referring to the accompanying drawings fora detail description of anapparatus embodying this invention, F designates the sup- To overcomethis the sprocket-wheel C is a clutch-piece E.

IV on the driving-shaft P is shifted from the postion shown, the pinionD will be drawn out of mesh, and the driving sprocket-Wheel C will beoperated, so that its driving-chain will turn the sprocket-wheel H uponthe journal 22 of he supply-spool, so as to re wind the perforated stripthereon. A frictension of the pa er during winding.

tion brake I- is employed for maintaining the The parts as t us fardescribed may be'ofsubstantially the ordinary or usual construction.

ing the registration of the perforated strip S, with its tracker-boardT, I rovide near the op osite' ends of the trac er-board dove-'- tai edmovable pieces 10 and 11, which movable pieces are provided withperforations which normally he immediately below the.

outer margins of the perforated'strip S. Con

- nected with the movable piece 10 1s a hand} lever 12-, and connectedwith the movable 'lhe levers 12 and 13 piece 11 is a lever 13. areconnected by a rod 14, and it is to be ob served that the levers arepivoted on relatively opposite sides of the movable pieces 10 and 11, sothat when the hand-lever 12 is pushed in one direction the marginalperforatrons will bebrought closer together to 00- operate with thenarrow strip of perforated paper'and when the hand-lever 12 is pushedIII the opposite direction the marginal per-' foraltions will be soarated to cooperate with a wider strip of pe orated paper. 7

Controlled from the marginal perforations are two sets of pneumaticoperating means, which sets of mechanisms are of similarconstruction, sothat a description of but one of Leading from each of the marginalperforations is a pipe 15, which connects to a pIi-- mary pneumatic 16.Controlled from the primary pneumatic 16 are the valves 18 and 19.' Asuction-pipe connected with any of the ordinary exhaust bellows or othersource of air-tension is connected above the ex+ haust-chest aboveprimary pneumatic 16, and when-the valves are in the normal positionillustrated suction is maintained in the operating pneumatic 20.-

The 0 crating pneumatics 20 at opposite sides of t e apparatus engagethe journals 21 and 22 of the music-roll, res cctively, and in order toassist the action 0 the pneumatics I employ spring connections normallytending to draw in said neumatics. As herein illustrated, theseconnections comprise the rod 23 and the springs 24. By means of thisconstruction, whenever either one of the marginal perforations isuncovered by. reason of the wandering or lack of registration .of theperforated strip, atmospheric pressure will nal perforations Whicoppositely be admitted to the operating pneumatic at the same side ofthe a paratus asthe margi- 18 uncovered, so that the suctional force 11on the operating-pneumatic at the other side of the a aratus will beimbalanced, and the roll Wll be shifted back, so that the sheet will beinstantly brought to registered position. I

. I am aware that'numerous chan es may be made in racticing thisinvention by those who are ski led in the art, and while I have.iIlustrated my invention'applied to an a pa'-.

ratus "in which registration is secure y shifting the; supply-roll otherconnections may be employed(for securing the desired Referring now tothe means for maintain may be applied to advantage to any class ofmechanismswhieh are controlled by perforated strips of paper.

I am aware that many changes may be made. by skilled mechanics inpracticing my invention without departing from the scope thereof asexpressed in the claims. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to theconstruction I have herein shown and described; but

What I doclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

1. The combination of a tracker-board, means for maintainingregistration between a perforatedstrip and the tracker-board, saidtracker-board having movable means located near each end for controlling the first-named means, and means for'simultaneously movingthe'controlling means toward or from the center of the-tracker-board.

2. The combination of a tracker-board having near each end a movablepiece provided with a perforation, means for maintaining' registrationbetween a perforated too and the tracker-board controlled by ouslymoving both perforated pieces either inwardly or outwardly along thetrackerboard.

3. In a construction of the class described, the combination of thewinding-rolls for a perforated, strip, I a tracker-board having piecesprovided with marginal erforations, means for simultaneously adiustingthe pieces having said marginal perforations to cooperate with strips ofdiiferentwidths, and

neumatically opcrating means controlled rom said marginal perforationsfor maintaining registration between the perforated strip andtracker-board. v

4.111 a construction of the class described, the combination ofwinding-rolls for a perforated strip, a, tracker-board having marginalperforations, and two sets of relatively, acting means, one of whichtends constantly to shift stri 'saicFpcrforations, and means forsimultane- IIO pneumatic. operating the perforated strip in onevdirection, and the music-sheet in the opposite direction while thelnstrument is in operation, said means be mg controlled by the marginalperforations.

5. In an apparatusof the class described, the comb nation ofwinding-rolls for a perfo rated strip, a tracker-board, a piece movablymounted near each end of the tracker-board and having amarginal'perforation thereima hand-lever and connections for=movingsaidmarginal perforations toward eachother to cooperate with narrow strips,and for sepa- Y j rating the marginal perforations to cooperate .withWider strips, andtwo sets'of relatively,.

oppositely acting I controlled from sai marginal perforations; each setcomprising a primary pneumatic, an

operatmg-pneumatic, valves; controlled by." t e primary pneumatic fornormally connectin'g the -o crating-pneumatic with the ex eration of tconnections atthe other sidelof the ap" aratus -i perforated strip. ackto haust, an slprings normally assisting the ope neumatics, said partsbeing; arranged so that whenever one ofthe mar-' ginal perforations isuncovered, the operating" will act to'shift the re istered position.

In an apparatus of theclass' described} l the combination of windi-rolls'lora.perforated strip,a tracker-boar a-piecerinovablyf 39 mountednear each end of the tracker-board and having a marginal perforationtherein-,'a .lever, and connect1ons for simultaneouslymoving both ofsaidpieces havingmargihab': perforations toward each other to. cooerate; with narrow strips andfor separating the marginal perforations'to' cooperate wider strips. a

- 7. In an apparatus of the classidescribe the combination ofwindingl-rollsforaperfoL rated strip, a tracker-board and two sets ofrelatively oppositely actin pneumatic connections controlled from saiviritlikthejexhaust, an

fpneur'natics "being [normally un whensaid perforations are. closed andtend- -ing;toyforce -the reci rocable support in op-" fpositedirections, sai Pneumatics being con- I lw tnes'sesr avingadju mbw 4 7pieces provided withmarginal perforations, f

marginal perforations, each set comprising a pneumatic, an, operatingpneumatic,

valves. confiidllediby the primary pneumatic lfoijnofmallybomiecting t eoperating-pneus rings nor- }theoperation o the neugy whenever one of theongimatics where rforations is uncovered, the o erat-' connections atthe other side of t e-ap-.

w s H t i eg 1 P i i i s a n,-a1i; .apparatus of the class described,

shift the perforated strip back gtlie combination ofja pair ofwinding-rolls for v Fa perforated; strip, a reciprocable supportneumatic. connections,

"having'bearings for "one of said winding-rolls, fa trac er-b'oardhaving marginal perforations,

jfand;jtwo'upneumatics, one connected yvith eachend of the, reciproeablesupport, said er tension ,marg'malperforations, and resilient means i -Wo testimony whereof I have" hereunto set my hand in the presence oftwosubscribing B n INSTALL.

Witnesses; l

' PHILIP WLSOUTHGATE,

' MARY-E; Rama.

for :ass'isting "the, operation. of the pneu:

